Present Albanese Blaisten-Barojas Boileau Censer Crockett Dinan Elstun Fuchs Gantz Hamburger Hammond Jensen Lont Metcalf Potter Rosenblum Rosenzweig Rossini Sanford Sofer Spikell Tabak Taylor Thomas Tongren Travis Wright Wood Zoltek

Absent Alligood Buckley Carty Chang Conti Fulmer Hurt Johnson Krauss Manne Mellander Mitchell Oates Ruth Sage Todd Torzilli

I. Call to Order

The Chair, Anita Taylor, called the meeting to order at 3:06 P.M.

II. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the November 9, 1994 meeting were approved as distributed.

III. Announcements

Ms. Taylor announced that the Senate has received two program announcements concerning conferences which Senators might be interested in attending. The announcements are available for review in the Senate office.

Ms. Taylor also announced that she has requested copies of the President's restructuring plan which was submitted to SCHEV.

Mr. Sanford announced that the last meeting of the Board of Visitors during the 1994-1995 academic year is scheduled for May 27 rather than April 27 as announced in the minutes of the September 14 meeting of the Faculty Senate.

IV. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

V. New Business

A. Senate Committee Reports
1. Executive Committee
Ms. Taylor reported that the Faculty Information Guide will be corrected to include faculty study leave information. Also, a third interpretive memorandum regarding the Faculty Handbook will be distributed to faculty. This memorandum will detail what is expected of Local Academic Units to comply with the requirement that they operate in a democratic manner.

2. Academic Policies Committee
Ms. Travis presented a substitute course proposal for MLSC 400 and a new course proposal for MLSC 401. Ms. Taylor reminded Senators that approval of these courses was the responsibility of the Academic Policies Committee, and that they are being presented to the Senate for comments and suggested amendments. Discussion centered on attendance policies (attendance is included in grade determination for ROTC cadets but not for non-contracted students). Maj. Fulbrook explained that ROTC cadets will have already agreed to attend course meetings as part of their contract for commissioning. The syllabus simply reflects previous commitments. An additional concern was raised about physical training, since several academic units of the university preclude appli- cation of physical activity course credits toward completion of degrees. Maj. Fulbrook explained that this part of the grade was predicated on planning and implementation of physical education programs. Most of the grade is determined by program planning; physical activity is required for implementation. Absent additional major concerns, the Committee report was accepted.

2. Faculty Matters Committee
There was no report.

3. Organization and Operations Committee
Ms. Elstun MOVED for the Committee motion (a) from Attachment B to the agenda.

Discussion concerned the notion of what is "too small," and the importance of a sunset rule for abolishing the proposed ad hoc committee. The sunset provision was accepted as a friendly amendment, with the committee's demise scheduled for the end of the 1995-1996 academic year. Mr. Censer MOVED and it was SECONDED to delete "either" and "or are too small to constitute such committees." Mr. Censer suggested that Local Academic Units should be responsible for establishing grievance committees and that he is attempting, through his amendment, to preclude faculty from "shopping around" for a grievance committee based on size of the unit. The amendment PASSED by a vote of 15 in favor, 9 opposed.

Ms. Elstun MOVED for the Committee motion (b) from Attachment B to the agenda.

Discussion centered on why "faculty [membership]... from at least three different colleges ..." was stipulated. Ms. Elstun explained that three was established as a minimum because of large differences in number of faculty from different Local Academic Units. This number allows flexi- bility in committee membership as well as wide representation. The motion PASSED by voice vote without dissension.

Ms. Elstun MOVED for the Committee motion (c) from Attachment B to the agenda.

The motion PASSED by voice vote without dissension.

4. Facilities and Support Services Committee
Mr. Spikell reported that the Committee is reviewing policies regarding classroom assignment, issues related to the electronic classroom, University poster policy, and parking policies. Mr. Zoltek reported that break-ins appear to occur primarily during long weekends. A break-in over Thanksgiving resulted in theft of several computers in a frequently-used classroom. This has compromised instruction in at least one PAGE course.

5. Nominations Committee
Mr. Rosenzweig reported that the Committee has nominated Cynthia Fuchs (ENGL), Karen Rosenblum (SOCI), Donald Smith (GSE) and Terry Zawacki (ENG) to serve on the Student Union Advisory Board. The Committee has also nominated Judith Allen (DANC), Stanley Engebretson (MUSI) and Gloria Murray (GSE) to serve on the Student Funding Board.

B. Other Committees

There were no reports of any other committees.

VI. Other New Business

A. Mr. Censer MOVED and it was SECONDED that

The Senate approves the list of candidates for the Bachelor of Individualized Study degree subject to successful completion of required work and silent correction of clerical errors.

The motion PASSED by voice vote without dissension.

B. Ms. Taylor indicated that Ms. Hammond had attended the meeting of the Faculty Senate of Virginia and would be reporting on this meeting at a later date.

C. Mr. Censer reminded Senators of the discussion of tenure and its ramifications at a lunch meeting next Tuesday, December 13.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 4:09 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

James F. Sanford
Secretary

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